Egyptian Gods

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Egyptian Gods

Egyptian Gods & Goddesses - Religion and the Egyptians
The religion of the Ancient Egyptians was extremely important to them and touched every aspect of their life. The Egyptian Gods numbered nearly 2000. The Ancient Egyptians lived in terror of evil spirits and the  displeasure of the gods. Some of the gods of Ancient Egypt were state gods, some were gods who looked after matters of daily importance and some Egyptian gods governed the realms of the dead. The main Egyptian Gods were worshipped throughout the whole of Egypt but many minor Gods had just a local following. In difficult times these minor Egyptian Gods were offered various gifts, which were accepted by the priests who offered prayers on behalf of the donor. For additional information about the most important Gods and Goddesses of Egypt click the appropriate link:

Depictions and Names of Egyptian Gods & Goddesses
The descriptions, depictions and names of some of the Egyptian Gods and Goddesses are as follows:

Egyptian Gods - The Family Tree of Gods & Goddesses
The Priests evolved a Family tree of the main Egyptian Gods and Goddesses to explain how some of the Gods and Goddesses were related. 

Egyptian Gods - The Creation Myth or Cosmogony
The Priests also evolved a creation myth, or cosmogny, to explain how some of the Gods and Goddesses came into being and the the nature and genesis of the universe. A summary of the creation myth, or cosmology, is that there was darkness and a primeval ocean called Nun. The Sun God Atum, Ra or Re, the Lord of Creation rose and spat out the elements of moisture (the Goddess Tefnut) and air (the God Shu). The twins, Shu and Tefnut gave birth to the Earth God, Geb, and the Sky Goddess, Nut. The God and Goddess Geb and Nut had four children: Osiris, Isis, Seth and Nephthys. Incest was seen as an acceptable element in the lives of the Egyptian Gods and Goddesses, retaining the sacred bloodline.

Egyptian Sun Gods - The Ennead of Heliopolis
The Ennead is the collective name given to the nine deities of the cosmogony of Heliopolis. Heliopolis was also one of the most ancient cities of Egypt particularly associated with worship of sun-deities and Heliopolis and was believed to be the birthplace of the company of the gods, called the Ennead and where creation began.  The nine deities, or gods of the Ennead were:

• Atum - The Sun God Ra

• Geb

• Isis

• Nephthys

• Nut

• Osiris

• Seth

• Shu

• Tefnut

Egyptian Gods & Goddesses - Part Human & Part Animal
The Egyptian Gods and Goddesses were often shown as part human and part animal. Egyptian Gods and Goddesses were most frequently depicted with the body of a human with the head of an animal.

Sacred Egyptian Animals - Animal Cults
The Egyptians believed that the Spirit of a God resided in specific animals leading to various animal cults in which these animals would be revered and worshipped as reincarnated Gods during their lifetimes. Examples of these are as follows:

• The God Anubis: worshipped as a Jackal or Dog

• The Goddess Bastet or Bast: worshipped as a Cat

• The God Horus: worshipped as a Hawk or Falcon

Egyptian Gods and Goddesses
Each section of the Egyptian Gods and Goddesses addresses all topics and provides interesting facts and information about the Golden Age of Pharaohs and of Egypt. The Sitemap provides full details of all of the information and facts provided about the fascinating subject of life in Egypt.